Yellowjacket

wasps · predators · colonies · insects

Striped hunters. Yellowjackets are wasps famous for their bold black and yellow markings, though some have red or white stripes instead. You can spot them by their rapid side-to-side flight pattern right before they land.

Live in groups. Unlike many solitary wasps, yellowjackets only live in colonies where they work together. This teamwork makes them much more powerful hunters than wasps that live alone.

All females sting. Every female yellowjacket can sting, and unlike honeybees, they can sting multiple times without dying. This makes them fierce defenders of their colony.

Pest controllers. Yellowjackets are important predators that hunt and eat tons of pest insects like flies and beetles. This makes them helpful to have around, even though they can be annoying at picnics.